Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he wants arch-rivals Everton to stay in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s Merseyside derby.
The two sides may be fierce local rivals but currently they couldn’t be further apart, as Liverpool are fighting for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, while Everton are fighting to stay in the Premier League.
The Reds are one point behind league leaders Manchester City with six games left, have reached the FA Cup final and UEFA Champions League semi-finals, on top of winning the Carabao Cup in February.
Everton on the other hand have endured their worst season in decades, with Frank Lampard’s side currently 17th, just a point clear of the relegation zone after Burnley’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Thursday.
While many Liverpool supporters would love to see their rivals relegated, Klopp does not, telling Sky Sports: ‘These games have nothing to do with the table.
‘It’s a great game and I honestly hope they stay in the league because the Merseyside derby should always be on the fixture list.’
Liverpool and Everton are two of the six teams to have remained in the Premier League since its inception, but the derby has been around for much longer, with the first meeting between the two clubs taking place way back in 1894.
While originally dubbed the ‘friendly derby’, the game is in fact one of the most intense around and has even seen more red cards than any other Premier League game.
‘It’s always intense for me, at times too intense,’ added Klopp. ‘We played a lot of derbies that I wouldn’t miss to be honest because they’re over the top.
‘I like physical football and all these kinds of things, but you also have to respect that the other guy has to play next week as well.’
‘We had that one game [last season] where not only did we have Jordan Pickford [seriously injuring Virgil van Dijk] but then Richarlison on Thiago. That’s too much.
‘Physicality? Yes. Legal aggression? Yes of course. If that hadn’t been allowed, I wouldn’t have been able to play one game in football.
‘But respect the rules. If that’s done than I would love the derby, as a really intense but normal football game.’
